By Charles Switzer
12:00pm PST, Feb 22, 2025
Leavitt Fires Back at Acosta at CPAC
White House Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt used her CPAC appearance on Friday, February 21, to take a jab at former CNN anchor Jim Acosta, who had previously mocked her credentials.
In an interview with
Mercedes Schlapp, Leavitt addressed Acosta's recent remarks, stating, "Since you brought up Jim Acosta: He's been saying some not-so-nice things about me online, and I've resisted responding. But since you brought him up, I'd like to say: Jim, at least I have a job, Jim. OK? Just saying."
The comment was met with enthusiastic applause and laughter from the CPAC audience, marking a sharp rebuke of Acosta, who left CNN last month following the network's schedule reshuffling.
Here's what happened.
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Acosta's Ongoing Criticism of Leavitt
Earlier this week, Acosta criticized Leavitt during an interview with the liberal outlet
MeidasTouch, calling her a "kid" who is "telling a tall tale."
He argued that she was attempting to emulate past Trump administration press secretaries, including
Sean Spicer and
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, whom he referred to as an "all-star team of liars."
Acosta suggested that while Leavitt might be "on the bench" for now, with enough effort, she could make it onto that team. His remarks were consistent with his long-standing criticism of Trump administration officials, which has made him a frequent target of MAGA supporters.
Acosta's 'SNL-Worth' Dig at Leavitt
Acosta didn't stop with his claims about Leavitt's credibility — he also suggested that her press briefings were so dishonest that she belonged on
Saturday Night Live. "The skit writes itself," he said, doubling down on his claim that she was a "bad liar."
He then took the criticism a step further by comparing Leavitt to a child telling an obvious lie. "When your kid is telling you a tall tale and you're just looking at them like, 'OK, Johnny. Sure, yeah, I believe you,' and you just walk away saying, 'What the h—? That kid's… not telling me the truth.'"
His comments reinforced his belief that Leavitt is unqualified for her position, but they also sparked significant backlash.
Leavitt's Supporters Clap Back at Acosta
Following Acosta's remarks, Leavitt's supporters wasted no time firing back.
On X, one supporter dismissed Acosta as "a b— who will never stop whining."
Another accused him of having a severe case of "TDS," or Trump Derangement Syndrome, a term commonly used by MAGA loyalists to describe those who are persistently critical of the former president.
Acosta's critique of Leavitt has only fueled more division between Trump allies and the media, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most polarizing figures in political journalism.
